Some of the updates to the INV 15 include: new charts regarding position designation and corresponding standard form type and investigation type, which aligns with implementation of the 2012 Federal Investigative Standards. It also explains form and document submission requirements. At this time much of the information in the INV 15 is available within the electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system’s help screens, and therefore explanations of each specific the Agency Use Block (AUB) field have been condensed.

The INV 15 is no longer available in portable document format (PDF), but it is still possible to print the entire document using the print buttons in your internet browser. To print the entire document, refrain from specifying numbers of pages or sections in the print window, and all six tabs of information will print in approximately 38 pages.

]]>Statement by Merton Miller, Associate Director Federal Investigative Services, OPM On GAO Report on FIS Pricinghttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2012/3/statement-by-merton-miller-associate-director-federal-investigative-services-opm-on-gao-report-on-fis-pricing/Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2012/3/statement-by-merton-miller-associate-director-federal-investigative-services-opm-on-gao-report-on-fis-pricing/OPM's investigation reforms are continuing to strengthen national security and drive down government-wide costs considerably. As the GAO has recognized, we have accelerated background investigation operations to exceed aggressive Congressional timeliness mandates and made incredible strides tackling the backlog we inherited- even as demands for the more labor intensive investigations have increased. In fact, our achievements in this area led GAO to remove the security clearance process from its high risk list last year. I'm happy to report today that we've also reduced the time it takes to complete 90 percent of clearances by over 7 percent since GAO released its last report, and by 82 percent since 2005. Our reform standards have ensured greater government-wide consistency in adjudication of background investigations, we have expanded checks of our centralized automated records, our expansion of access to the Central Verification System has allowed agencies to avoid duplicative investigations, and we now deliver investigative reports to agencies electronically. Of course as GAO indicates in this report, these stepped up operations do incur costs. However, GAO's most recent report omits the aggressive cost avoidance and process efficiencies that we continue to realize from these reforms. In fact, OPM estimates that these reforms have already saved agencies billions of dollars in avoided costs. However our efforts to root out additional efficiencies must continue and OPM concurs with GAO's recommendations to increase transparency and seek additional cost savings, and has already begun implementation. Consistent with the recommendation to provide agencies more information about the investigation prices, OPM has briefed customer agencies on pricing and key cost drivers during monthly meetings of the Background Investigations Stakeholder Group (BISG) . OPM has also committed to provide the BISG a quarterly update on trends impacting revenues and expenditures. Regarding GAO's recommendation to seek further cost savings, OPM is exploring expanding automations of investigations-as much as the capacity of our law enforcement and customer partners will allow-and will continue to see savings from expanded use of automated record checks, eDelivery, and increased use of our Central Verification System.]]>Security/Human Resources Specialists: View the e-QIP 3.0 Educational Video!http://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2012/1/securityhuman-resources-specialists-view-the-e-qip-30-educational-video!/Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2012/1/securityhuman-resources-specialists-view-the-e-qip-30-educational-video!/Do you want to be notified BEFORE your agency user roles expire in e-QIP? Or as the agency administrator, do you need to send a message to ALL your agency's e-QIP users? A new agency User Interface and functional updates for the electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system is going to allow agencies to do these things and much more! Improved e-QIP user capabilities, termed e-QIP 3.0, are currently scheduled for implementation on January 21, 2012. Read the Federal investigations Notice 12-02 for a quick list of some of the expanded functionalities and performance enhancements to be implemented with the release of e-QIP 3.0. Information about e-QIP 3.0 classes that will be conducted in Crystal City, VA can be found in FIN 12-02 and the e-QIP 3.0 Open House page. Additionally, you can find the e-QIP 3.0 Educational Series webcast at OPM's Media Center. This webcast covers new navigation for all basic functions such as initiating, reviewing, approving, and resetting Golden Questions. We encourage agency users to watch this webcast for an introduction to e-QIP 3.0. If you have any further questions about the upcoming release of e-QIP 3.0, please contact Systems Access Support at (724) 794-5612, extension 4600.]]>Merton Miller Takes the Reigns as the New Associate Director of OPM's Federal Investigative Serviceshttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2011/1/merton-miller-takes-the-reigns-as-the-new-associate-director-of-opms-federal-investigative-services/Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2011/1/merton-miller-takes-the-reigns-as-the-new-associate-director-of-opms-federal-investigative-services/On January 31, 2011, after 35 years of Federal service with the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) investigations program, Kathy Dillaman retired from her position as Associate Director of Federal Investigative Services (FIS). She has accepted a limited-term appointment as Senior Policy Advisor to OPM Director John Berry. Over the next 12 to 24 months, Ms. Dillaman will support Director Berry in the development of policy related to the ongoing national security clearance reform effort, and support OPM initiatives.

Merton Miller, FIS Deputy Associate Director for External Affairs, was chosen by Director Berry to replace Ms. Dillaman as Associate Director of FIS. FIS would like to welcome Mr. Miller as the new Associate Director. Mr. Miller joined the FIS team in 2009 as the Deputy Associate Director for External Affairs, bringing with him a wealth of experience, as well as extraordinary leadership skills.

Mr. Miller retired as a Colonel from the United States Air Force in 2005 after 26 years of distinguished service. Colonel Miller's military awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Service Badge and the Presidential Service Badge.

FIS would like to wish the best of luck to Ms. Dillaman in all her future endeavors. Ms. Dillaman has unparalleled program knowledge of FIS, incredible leadership skills, and unwavering dedication. FIS will miss Ms. Dillaman and we thank her for her faithful support and steadfast commitment to improvement.

]]>Coming Soon! New Training and Guidance for the 2010 Standard Form 86http://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/12/coming-soon!-new-training-and-guidance-for-the-2010-standard-form-86/Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/12/coming-soon!-new-training-and-guidance-for-the-2010-standard-form-86/The Office of Personnel Management, Federal Investigative Services (OPM-FIS) is proud to offer new training and guidance to assist customer agencies in transitioning to the newly revised Standard Form (SF) 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions, in e-QIP. Agencies' implementation of the 2010 SF 86 in e-QIP will be phased. After final testing and production validation, the revised SF 86 will be available to other investigation service providers by the end of the month. OPM will allow its customer agencies to begin using the revised SF 86 in e-QIP beginning in February 2011 on a phased schedule.

Training will begin January 4th, 2011 and continue throughout the month of January. Training will be for individuals who can act as "trainers" for the agency and/or are the most knowledgeable e-QIP users. Please see the Agency Training section of our website for more information about this training.

]]>New INV-70B, Request for PIPS/CVS User ID/Accesshttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/new-inv-70b-request-for-pipscvs-user-idaccess/Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/new-inv-70b-request-for-pipscvs-user-idaccess/OPM-FIS has updated the form INV-70B, used to request access to the Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS)/Central Verification System (CVS). The INV-70B is now a fillable PDF and is posted on the OPMIS Secure Portal library in the folders "PIPS on the Portal" and "CVS-Central Verification System". Detailed instructions are attached to the form. Agencies must begin using the new form immediately; older versions will no longer be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact the Systems Access Support Team at (724) 794-5612, extension 4600.]]>e-QIP: Changes to Applicant Information Validationhttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/e-qip-changes-to-applicant-information-validation/Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/e-qip-changes-to-applicant-information-validation/To improve the quality of investigation submissions, OPM FIS has added the verification of Submitting Office Number (SON), Security Office Identifier (SOI), and Intra-Governmental Payment and Collection Code (IPAC) to the Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP). This will help reduce the number of cases that are unacceptable due to incorrect SON/SOI/IPAC information. If the agency user attempts to use SON, SOI, or IPAC codes that are not compatible with OPM's system, the user will receive a validation error and will not be allowed to submit the case until a valid code and/or combination of codes is provided.

If your agency needs to validate your SON, SOI, and IPAC codes or approval to use a specific combination of codes for your investigation requests, please contact the OPM-FIS Systems Access Support Team at (724) 794-5612, x4600.

Other recent changes to e-QIP included:

"For Official Use Only" has been added to the header and footer on the electronic and printable versions of all Standard Forms.

The Service Code "B-Accelerated" has been changed to "B-Standard" in Block A of the Agency Use Block. This change does not impact how OPM processes the investigations. It is simply an update to align the service code with current procedures and written guidance.

A validation change in the Military History section of the e-QIP for national security positions will not allow the applicant to provide information about military service or disciplinary actions, including courts martial, if the applicant answered "no" to questions 15a, 15b, and/or 15d.

]]>CVS 2.0 Went Live March 22 with New Adjudication Formhttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/cvs-20-went-live-march-22-with-new-adjudication-form/Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/3/cvs-20-went-live-march-22-with-new-adjudication-form/The newest version of CVS went live on March 22, 2010. The name of the system was changed from 'Clearance Verification System' to 'Central Verification System' to reflect the system's expanded role in promoting reciprocity throughout the Federal Government. In the past, only security clearance information was recorded in CVS. New fields were added to CVS to collect information on suitability, fitness, and access determinations. To aid the collection of this data, the INV Form 79A, Report of Agency Adjudicative Action on OPM Investigations was updated to request information on adjudicative actions that will be added to CVS.

For additional information, agencies can access the new CVS User's Manual posted in the Library section of the OPMIS Secure Portal, or contact OPM-FIS Agency Liaison Group.

]]>Central Verification System (CVS) New User Training Now Availablehttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/2/central-verification-system-cvs-new-user-training-now-available/Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.opm.govhttps://www.opm.gov/investigations/background-investigations/news/2010/2/central-verification-system-cvs-new-user-training-now-available/Federal agency security officers and human resources personnel can now sign up for new Central Verification System (CVS) user training. This training was created with the new CVS users in mind. Beginning in June of 2010, OPM-FIS's Agency Training and Oversight will be holding two day courses in Arlington, Virginia on a weekly basis until the end of September 2010. This course is designed to teach the novice CVS user:

how to navigate through the CVS application;

how to use the system in compliance with Federal rules and regulations;

why correct CVS usage is important to the reciprocity of security and suitability determinations;

how to use the CVS guidance and training documents provided by OPM; and

how to report and maintain clearance, polygraph, and HSPD-12 data.

Visit the Agency Training section of our website in order to find specific dates, times, and contact information for registration.